no permission to access shares on a samba server from a SPECIFIC only, winXP machine
 

hello everyone,
i'm not even sure there is something wrong with samba here but im taking all chances...
i have a linux samba server and 3 winXP prof pcs in my setup.

now from one of the winxp boxes i can not seem to access my shares on the server. that is when i try to go through network neighborhood path.
the message that is returned is : \\stargaze is not accessible. You may not have permission to use the shares... please contact sys admin etcetc. it ends by stating 'the Server service is not started'.
well i did check the service setting in windows services and the Server service is indeed running automatically. so no problem there,,

note that i have mapped a few of the shares on network drives to have quick access to them from windows explorer.. i can STILL access these shares !!!!!!!

i also tried logging on to my shares (ie with the same (username and pass) from the other pc's and it works fine - thats why i am saying it might not even be a samba misconfigure...

any ideas why i can access the shares though from network neighborhood?

needless to say it 'used' to work.. now i dunno how long ago it stopped doing so or why, since i mostly use the mapped drives to access the most frequently used shares.

thank you in advance for your help
nass